WASHINGTON - UN internal auditors faced constraints that barred them from widely examining the world body's controversial Iraq oil-for-food program, a US government watchdog said.
The auditors did not get speedy information on problems in the controversial 64 billion dollar scheme so that action could be taken, according to Joseph Christoff, director of international affairs and trade at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).
"A strong internal audit function provides additional oversight and accountability through independent assessments of UN activities, as demonstrated by audits of the UN oil for food program," Christoff told a Congressional panel on Wednesday.
While auditors found "recurring problems" in the program's management, "constraints on the internal auditors' scope and authority prevented the auditors from examining and reporting widely on problems" Christoff said.
"UN oversight bodies did not obtain timely reporting on serious management problems and were unable to take corrective actions when needed," he told the House International Relations Committee's subpanel on oversight and investigations.
Between 1996 and 2003, the oil-for-food program allowed Iraq to use revenue from oil sales, under UN supervision, to buy humanitarian supplies. The intent was to ease the burden of international sanctions on ordinary Iraqis.
But allegations of corruption in the program surfaced after the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein.
An independent commission led by former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker was appointed by Annan to investigate the corruption allegations, while US lawmakers have conducted seperate inquiries.
Christoff testified on the UN management reform initiatives launched by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 1997 and 2002. "The United Nations needs sustained oversight at all levels of the organization to make progress in its reform agenda and achieve lasting results," he said.
03/03/2005 15:34 GMT